TOPIC: Trans America Trail September 2018

I have always wanted to drive across the county, and the Trans America Trails (TAT) seems like the perfect opportunity to experience the county from a off-road perspective. What is the Trans America Trail? It is an off-road route that traverses the United States consisting mostly of dirt roads, logging roads, fire roads, farm roads, unimproved roads, and back county roads. The route generally attempts to avoid pavement, but it does travel through towns for essential services, such as gasoline, groceries, laundry, etc.

Below is the url an informational website detailing the routes, maps, GPS tracks, and general information:

The route is based on the route data from the link, though it is slightly modified to address certain single tracks that will not support a vehicle. I plan on following the LA section 09 to LA section 01 and TAT section 33 to TAT section 07.

The route I plan on following is approximately 3,800 miles from Mesquite, NV to Waynesville, NC, with an additional 2,300 miles back to Southern California along the I-40 or I-10.

We will begin the trip on September 3, 2018. I am allocating 19 driving days from Mesquite to Waynesville, and four days for the drive back to California. I added one day in Waynesville to relax in the Smokey Mountains, celebrate the completion of the trip, and for any vehicle maintenance (oil change, etc.) prior to the return drive home. The total duration of the trip is 24 days.

The route is well documented and there is ample lodging (motels and campgrounds), restaurants, markets, gas stations, laundromats, and general services along the way.

I have created GPX files with the 19 daily track segments, and additional files with waypoints for gas stations, campgrounds, motels, sights, laundromats, restaurants, and markets. I have also created spreadsheet that includes the daily route and mileage, gas station locations, and primary and alternate lodging (campground or motels). The daily drive distances vary, as can be seen on the route detail spreadsheet, I do not foresee fuel being an issue, since we will pass by at least two gas station per day.

The plan is to make this a predominately a camping trip, though there may be times when we will stay in motels. Most of the campgrounds I have chosen have showers and laundry. I have also identified backup campgrounds/motels along the route; therefore, we have numerous options. We will be passing through towns daily, so we should have access to other services as needed.

Lastly, I tried my best to lay out a plan. There are many factors that may impact the schedule once the trip begins. It is important to understand that it is a starting point. I am very flexible and open to working with those that join me. A trip of this duration will require individual flexibility and patience. The route is not etched in stone, but since the goal is to run the Trans America Trail, there is little room for large route deviations.

I have posted all the information on Dropbox. If you want access, send me an email and I will get you connected. File size is too big to email.

I am limiting the group size to six vehicles. As of today, I have myself and one confirmed.